Old Monterey Foundation continues its popular season of free lecture events as part of its 2019 Lecture Series sponsored by The Marcia F. Devoe Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County with Stuart M. Frank speaking on Sidelights and Details of California Shore-Whaling 1852-1901.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Lecture: 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Q and A: 7:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. 
Reception: 7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Irvine Auditorium, McCone Building, MIIS
499 Pierce Street, Monterey
Free Admission – Reception to follow with wine and cheese

The general history of California shore-whaling, and many of the photographs that survive, have become fairly familiar over the past few years as historians have excavated some of the evidence with newfound enthusiasm. However, many compelling highlights and intriguing sidelights have been overlooked, including the origins and deepwater backgrounds of some of the principals, the concentration of crewmen from the Azores, Martha’s Vineyard, and Japan, their migrations and transfers among the whaling stations, and some hidden aspects of the methods and technology utilized in the hunt, as well as the unique scrimshaw and decorative arts produced by whalemen in Monterey and Carmel. The plan is to outline the history of California shore-whaling from beginning to end, and to provide some hints about further research, punctuated by attention to the participants, their methods, and the small but compelling legacy of artworks they left behind.

About Dr. Stuart M. Frank

Dr. Stuart M. Frank is senior curator emeritus at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, executive director emeritus of the Kendall Whaling Museum in Massachusetts, a collections consultant at Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association, and the author of Herman Melville’s Picture Gallery; Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum; Scrimshaw on Nantucket: The Collection of the Nantucket Historical Association; “Jolly Sailors Bold”: Ballads and Songs of the American Sailor; Classic Whaling Prints; Dutch and Flemish Old Master Paintings in the New Bedford Whaling Museum; The New Book of Pirate Songs; three biographical dictionaries of scrimshaw artists; and 75+ monographs and articles on maritime history, art, and traditional music, in popular magazines and scholarly journals.

Bill Wojtkowski, President of the Old Monterey Foundation Board of Directors, will also present a brief overview of recent improvements accomplished and planned for the Lower Presidio Historic Park.

For more information about Old Monterey Foundation, call (831) 346-3030.

The lectures are very popular so attendees are urged to come early to secure a seat.

This lecture is suitable for ages 9 and up.

The event is hosted by Old Monterey Foundation and sponsored by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.